Jen Ledger

{{Short description|English and American drummer and singer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Jen Ledger | image = JenLedgerSingingDrummingLifest2019.jpg | landscape = yes | caption = Ledger in 2019 | birth_name = Jennifer Carole Ledger | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1989|12|8}} | birth_place = Coventry, England | genre = {{hlist|Hard rock|Christian rock|alternative metal|Christian metal}} | occupation = {{hlist|Musician|singer}} | instrument = {{hlist|Drums|vocals}} | years_active = 2008–present | label = {{hlist|Atlantic|Hear It Loud}} | current_member_of = {{hlist|Skillet|LEDGER}} | past_member_of = | website = }}

'''Jennifer Carole Ledger''' (born 8 December 1989) is an English and American musician who serves as the drummer and co-vocalist for the Christian rock band Skillet.<ref name="WomenDrummers">{{cite book|last1=Smith|first1=Angela|title=Women Drummers: A History from Rock and Jazz to Blues and Country|date=2014|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810888357|pages=169–170|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z-BhAwAAQBAJ&q=jen+ledger+kenosha&pg=PA169|access-date=31 March 2018}}</ref> At the age of 18, she became Skillet's drummer when previous drummer Lori Peters retired.<ref name="WomenDrummers" /><ref>[http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2008/01/15.SKILLET%20DRUMMER%20EXITS!.asp Skillet drummer exits]; Jesus Freak Hideout reprint of John Cooper press release, 14 January 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2008</ref>

Ledger released a solo EP in 2019 under the name LEDGER. Several songs hit the Christian Rock chart and several other songs hit the Contemporary Christian music chart.

==Early life== Ledger was born in Coventry and started playing the drums when she was 13.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.moderndrummer.com/2009/10/jen-ledger/|title=Jen Ledger of Skillet|date=10 October 2009|work=Modern Drummer Magazine|access-date=30 March 2018}}</ref> Ledger attended Coventry Blue Coat Church of England School where she passed her GCSEs.<ref name="CoventryTelegraph" /> She played drums in a local band and was a finalist for the United Kingdom Drummer of the Year competition in 2006.<ref name="WomenDrummers" />

She relocated to the United States at age 16 to major in drums with a scholarship at Living Light School of Worship in Kenosha, Wisconsin.<ref name="CoventryTelegraph">{{cite web|last1=Waddington|first1=Jenny|title=Coventry teen Jennifer Ledger rocks all over America|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-teen-jennifer-ledger-rocks-3097980|work=Coventry Telegraph|access-date=31 March 2018|date=20 May 2008}}</ref> She joined the band The Spark; since the band already had a drummer, she played bass.<ref name="WomenDrummers" />

==Career== === With Skillet=== {{main|Skillet (band)}} thumb|right|Ledger drumming in 2017 Band members from Skillet discovered Ledger when they attended church services in the United States, where she was living at the time, and asked Ledger to audition for an open drummer spot in the band.<ref name="CoventryTelegraph" /> She has been Skillet's drummer and female vocalist since 2008, appearing on the Comatose Comes Alive album, a live concert version of the Comatose album.<ref>{{Citation |title=Comatose Comes Alive |date=2024-07-20 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comatose_Comes_Alive |access-date=2024-08-25 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Solo === thumb|upright|Ledger performing in 2019 Ledger stated that she and bandmate Korey Cooper began to write music for her own pop-influenced solo-project album in about 2012.<ref name="LoudwireInterview">{{cite web|title=Ledger, 'Not Dead Yet' - Exclusive Song Premiere|url=http://loudwire.com/ledger-not-dead-yet-exclusive-song-premiere-interview/|website=Loudwire|date=5 April 2018 |access-date=11 April 2018}}</ref>

In March 2018, it was announced that her debut EP, ''Ledger'', was scheduled to be released on 13 April.<ref name="BillboardSoloEP">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/skillet-jen-ledger-solo-deal-ep-8247415/|title=Skillet's Jen Ledger Inks Solo Deal, Releasing EP Next Month: Exclusive|magazine=Billboard|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> She has signed a deal with Atlantic Records and Hear it Loud, the imprint launched by Skillet's John and Korey Cooper and manager Zachary Kelm.<ref name="BillboardSoloEP" /> ''Ledger'' was produced by Korey Cooper along with writer and producer Seth Mosley.<ref name="BillboardSoloEP" /> Ledger was named the opening act for Skillet's Unleashed tour.<ref name="BillboardSoloEP" /> On 6 April, she released an official audio for the song "Not Dead Yet" on YouTube.<ref>{{cite web|title=Not Dead Yet (Official Audio)| date=6 April 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-8G3UytENA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/R-8G3UytENA |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=LEDGER|access-date=11 April 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In a 2018 Billboard article, Deborah Evans Price stated that “Ledger wrote “Not Dead Yet” about a difficult time in her life when she was badly struggling with anxiety, fear and panic attacks.”<ref>{{cite news |last1=Evans Price |first1=Deborah |title=Jen Ledger Overcomes the Odds in 'Not Dead Yet' Video: Exclusive |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/jen-ledger-not-dead-yet-video-8470330/ |access-date=10 December 2022 |agency=Billboard |date=August 16, 2018}}</ref>

On 8 October 2018, it was announced that Ledger would be performing at the 2019 Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, along with Newsboys, Danny Gokey, Mandisa and Rend Collective.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thechristianbeat.org/index.php/news/5326-winter-jam-2019-artists-cities-and-dates-announced|title=Winter Jam 2019 Tour Details Announced|last=Clarks|first=Jessie|website=TheChristianBeat.org|date=9 October 2018 |access-date=3 April 2019}}</ref>

On 15 February 2019, Ledger released her non-album single, "Completely,"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/ledger-releases-compelling-new-single-completely/|title=LEDGER Releases Compelling New Single 'Completely'|last=Cluver|first=Ross|date=15 February 2019|website=CCM Magazine|access-date=3 April 2019}}</ref> followed by a music video published on 27 March.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/skillet-drummer-jen-ledger-celebrates-gods-love-in-new-video-completely/|title=SKILLET Drummer JEN LEDGER Celebrates God's Love In New Video, 'Completely'|last=Blabbermouth|date=26 March 2019|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET|access-date=3 April 2019}}</ref>

On 14 February 2020, Ledger released her second non-album single, "My Arms", which was accompanied by a lyric video the same day.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/ledger-drops-new-single-lyric-video-my-arms/ |title=LEDGER Drops New Single & Lyric Video 'My Arms' |date=14 February 2020 | access-date=18 August 2020 }}</ref>

== Personal life ==

Ledger became a US citizen in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=I BECAME AN AMERICAN CITIZEN TODAY!|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CNIbSDFBekr/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CNIbSDFBekr |archive-date=24 December 2021 |url-access=limited|access-date=1 April 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Discography== ===With Skillet=== {{Main|Skillet discography}}

* ''Awake'' (2009) * ''Rise'' (2013) * ''Unleashed'' (2016) * ''Victorious'' (2019) * ''Dominion'' (2022) * ''Revolution'' (2024)

===As Ledger=== ====Extended plays==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:5em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="4" | Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" | Sales |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US <ref name=debutsales>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/ledger-debuts-no-5-emerging-artists-chart/|title=Skillet Side Project Ledger Debuts at No. 5 on Emerging Artists Chart|magazine=Billboard |access-date=16 June 2018}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US Christ <ref name=debutsales/> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US Rock <ref name=debutsales/> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US Alt. <ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?page=1&artist=LEDGER&f[0]=ts_chart_artistname%3ALEDGER&f[1]=ss_chart_search_title%3A%2ALEDGER%20%28EP%29%2A&f[2]=itm_field_chart_id%3A-&f[3]=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&title=LEDGER%20%28EP%29&type=1|title=Chart Search {{!}} Billboard|magazine=Billboard |access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" style="width:6em;"| ''Ledger'' | *Released: 13 April 2018 *Format: CD, digital download *Label: Atlantic/Hear It Loud | 63 || 2 || 7 || 3 | * US: 8,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metalinsider.net/columns/metal-by-numbers/metal-by-numbers-4-25-breaking-benjamins-sales-are-hot|title=Metal By Numbers 4/25: Breaking Benjamin's sales are hotMetal Insider|date=25 April 2018|access-date=16 June 2018}}</ref> |}

====Singles==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Year ! Single ! US Main. <ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks|title=Rock Music: Top Mainstream Rock Songs Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=5 September 2018}}</ref> !Christ. Rock !US Christ. !Christ. Airplay ! Album |- style="font-size:smaller;" |- | rowspan="3" | 2018 ! scope="row"| "Not Dead Yet" | 31 | 1 <ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2018-06-02/christian-rock|title=Christian Rock {{!}} Week of 2 June 2018|magazine=Billboard |access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref> | — | — | rowspan="3" | ''Ledger (EP)'' |- ! scope="row"| "Bold" | — | — | —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"Bold" did not enter the Hot Christian Songs chart, but peaked at No. 10 on the Christian Hot AC/CHR chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f[0]=ts_chart_artistname%3ALEDGER&f[1]=ss_chart_search_title%3A%2ABold%2A&f[2]=itm_field_chart_id%3A-&f[3]=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=1&artist=LEDGER&title=Bold|title=Chart Search {{!}} Billboard|magazine=Billboard |access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref>}} | — |- ! scope="row"| "Warrior" {{small|(featuring John Cooper)}} | — | 2 <ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2018-12-08/christian-rock|title=Christian Rock {{!}} Week of 8 December 2018|magazine=Billboard |access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref> | — | — |- |2019 ! scope="row"| "Completely" | — | — | 29 | 28 | rowspan="2" {{Non-album singles}} |- |2020 ! scope="row"| "My Arms" | — | — | 32 | 32 |}

====Music videos==== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Year ! style="width:7em;"| Title ! Director |- style="font-size:smaller;" |- | 2018 ! scope="row"| "Not Dead Yet" | Roland Bingaman |- | 2019 ! scope="row"| "Completely" | rowspan="2"| Ford Fairchild |- | 2020 ! scope="row"| "My Arms" |}

====As featured artist==== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Year ! Title ! Artist |- |2019 | "The Elements" (featuring Jen Ledger) | TobyMac |- |2020 | "Gravity" (featuring Jen Ledger) | From Ashes to New |- | rowspan="2"|2022 | "Never Let Go" (featuring Jen Ledger) | The Spark |- | "Army of the Lord" (featuring Jen Ledger) | Living Light Church |- |2025 | "With Arms Outstretched" (featuring LEDGER) | The Spark |}

== Awards == {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year!! Award !! Category !! Result !! Source  |- | rowspan="2"| 2012 || rowspan="2"| Drummies! Award || Rising Star || {{Won}} ||<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://mauce.nl/site/skillets-jen-ledger-named-rising-star-in-drum-magazines-2012-drummies-award/|title='Skillet's' 'Jen Ledger' Named 'Rising Star' in Drum Magazine's 2012 Drummies Award|date=3 July 2012|work=The Metal Resource - mauce.nl|access-date=30 March 2018}}</ref> |- | Independent Drummer || {{won}} || {{citation needed|date=July 2019}} |}

== Notes == {{notelist-ua}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Commons category-inline|Jen Ledger}} {{Skillet}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ledger, Jen}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:English heavy metal drummers Category:English heavy metal singers Category:English women drummers Category:21st-century English women singers Category:21st-century English singers Category:21st-century British drummers Category:English rock drummers Category:English rock singers Category:Women heavy metal singers Category:Skillet (band) members Category:English Christians Category:Musicians from Coventry Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States

Jen Ledger

Connections

Linked from (40 total)

Links to (33 total)